held up in rear, took closer order 9th, lost action and pulled up quickly approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened next, left 3rd last
tracked leader, hit 10th, ridden and every chance 2 out, left in lead next, headed towards finish
in touch, ridden after 4 out, weakened next
led, ridden and joined 2 out, fell last
in touch, dropped to rear 9th, outpaced between 3 out and 2 out, ridden and headway approacing last, stayed on to lead towards finish
Top Smart looked a progressive young stayer last season and can do well this term though he may just need this after an absence since April. Big Talk hasn't been seen since February and he's looking high in the weights after his victory in a selling hurdle on soft ground at Uttoxeter. Mzuri Bay ran very poorly at Uttoxeter a couple of weeks ago but can do better than that though he has 45l to find with the winner PAINTED SKY, who was gaining his third success from four starts and has thrived since joining Donald McCain. He can score again though it's about time Inner Steel was winning and he makes his handicap debut from what could turn out to be a lenient mark. Only Witness was raised 10lb for his Worcester victory but ran well at Huntingdon subsequently and isn't out of this.
Top Smart 8-1 (10-6) Held up mid-division, headway to track leaders before 4 out, went 3rd before 3 out, ridden before next, kept on, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Ultravox (10-10) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) gf in Apr.
Big Talk 25-1 (10-3) Towards rear, ridden 8th, no impression, 10th of 17, 40l behind Snake Charmer (11-1) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Feb.
Mzuri Bay 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, lost place 5th, soon ridden along, headway when not fluent 8th, weakened after next, tailed off, 8th of 9, 46l behind Painted Sky (10-12) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gf.
Painted Sky 8-1 (10-12) Held up, slighlt hampered 4th, reminder after 6th, went 5th after 9th, soon outpaced, switched right and rallied after 2 out, led last, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gf beating Diddley Dee (10-13) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Inner Steel (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) With leader, mistake 5th, led next, fell 7th, in a race won by Viviani (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gd in Sep, 7 ran.
Only Witness (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, mistake next, headway 8th, switched right approaching 2 out, kept on same pace flat, not able to challenge, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Lost Glory (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
